Portable pet grooming system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet grooming systems lack efficiency and versatility in distributing cleaning liquids, agitating the coat, and effectively removing debris, often requiring more water and leaving the pet's coat excessively wet during traditional bathing processes.

Innovation Solution

A portable pet grooming system with a hand tool and modular design, featuring interchangeable sprayer attachments and grooming tools, a delivery system for distributing cleaning liquids, and a recovery system for extracting used liquids and debris, which includes a flexible hose, supply tanks, and a vacuum motor for efficient cleaning and minimal water usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional bathing methods are used to clean pets, then cleaning liquid can be distributed to the pet's coat, but excessive water is used and the pet's coat becomes excessively wet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater usageVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the cleaning process into distinct functional modules: a delivery system for applying cleaning liquid, a recovery system for extracting used liquid and debris, and interchangeable grooming attachments. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function efficiently, reducing overall water usage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recovery system captures and recovers used cleaning liquid and debris from the pet's coat, preventing the liquid from being wasted down a drain. This recovery mechanism significantly reduces the quantity of cleaning liquid needed for each grooming session while maintaining high cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single grooming tool is used, then the device is simple, but it lacks versatility for different coat types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different coat typesVSAvoidnumber of attachments
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hand tool is designed as a universal platform that can accept multiple interchangeable grooming attachments, including sprayer attachments with different spray patterns, brushing attachments, and comb attachments. This allows a single base device to perform multiple grooming functions suitable for different coat types, achieving versatility without requiring multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamically interchangeable attachments that can be easily swapped on and off the hand tool according to the specific grooming needs. This dynamic configuration allows the user to adapt the device to different coat types and grooming tasks, balancing versatility with operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If cleaning liquid is sprayed directly onto the pet's coat, then the coat becomes wet, but debris is not effectively removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebris removal effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning liquid remaining in coat
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the cleaning liquid delivery function with the debris removal function into a single integrated hand tool. The sprayer attachment delivers cleaning liquid while the attached brushing or combing elements simultaneously agitate and lift debris from the coat. The recovery system then captures both the used liquid and debris together, ensuring effective debris removal while minimizing residual moisture in the coat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system allows for efficient distribution and agitation of cleaning liquids, effective removal of debris, and reduced water usage, leaving the pet's coat less wet than traditional methods while providing customizable options for different coat types.

Implementation Method 1

a suction source configured to generate a vacuum pressure to extract the used cleaning liquid and debris from the pet's skin and coat through the hand tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

a fluid delivery pump provided in the fluid pathway between the supply tank and the inlet to the flexible hose to control the flow of liquid to the hand tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP3782463B1Portable pet grooming system
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 BISSELL INC
  • EP3782463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3782463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3782463B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a pet grooming system (10) and various related apparatus for grooming a pet. The pet grooming system (10) can comprise components dedicated to pet grooming or can adapt a surface cleaning apparatus or tools normally used for cleaning floors and upholstery to instead groom a pet. The pet grooming system (10) can include a hand tool (12) coupled with a portable module (14) via a conduit assembly, at least a portion of which may be in the form of a flexible hose (16). A plurality of pet grooming attachments are provided, and the hand tool (12) can concurrently mount a grooming comb (300) and a sprayer attachment (302) to groom a pet.